Wayne County EDC celebrates year of 377 new job commitments, $51 million in new investment for 2018

Past Chair Tim Frame reviews the work of the EDC of Wayne County in 2018 during the organization's annual meeting in Lingle Hall at Reid Health on Monday, May 13, 2019. (Photo: Jason Truitt/Palladium-Item)

RICHMOND — A crowd of community leaders on Monday filled Lingle Hall at
Reid Health to celebrate the work done by the Economic Development
Corp. of Wayne County over the past year.

In
its 25th year of existence, the EDC helped facilitate a handful of
local business expansion projects that together brought 377 new job
commitments and a total private investment of more than $51.4 million,
according to the group.

"That's 25 years of working
for the residents, employees and businesses within Wayne County by
promoting economic development and economic success," said Tim Frame,
the 2018 chair of the organization's board.

Funding
for the EDC comes from Wayne County's various communities, most of
which have pledged to devote half of their Economic Development Income
Tax dollars toward the group's annual budget.

"In
many ways, the EDC serves as the sales force of Wayne County," Frame
said. "Whether the EDC is responding to requests for proposals, seeking
out land for future development, providing grants to local businesses
for new projects or promoting education and training, the EDC maintains a
critical role for our current and future success."

Here's a quick look at each of the expansion projects that the EDC worked on last year.